India is in a catch-22: as the country protects endangered species from wildlife poachers, it is putting the lesser-known animals in the area in danger.
India began to take efforts to protect tigers and rhinos, among other endangered species, about four decades ago, The Associated Press reports. However, lesser-known animals such as the pangolin, star tortoise and monitor lizard are becoming endangered as a result.
These animals are attractive to poachers as they are believed to have health benefits in some cultures.
"The problem is that we were turning a blind eye to all lesser-known species, and suddenly this very lucrative trade has been allowed to explode," Belinda Wright, director of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, an advocacy group, tells AP.
The pangolin has scales made of keratin, which is believed in traditional Chinese culture to be a good source of protein, which is used for medicine purposes. The monitor lizard is often poached for a similar reason; its meat is believed by some cultures to have aphrodisiacal properties. The star tortoise is usually captured for the pet trade.
In recent years, the hunting of lesser-known animals is rapidly increasing in India. Activists are blaming the illegal trade on boarder guards and custom officials' lack of knowledge that these animals should be closely watched, AP reports.
"This is a huge tragedy in the making," Wright tells AP. "We must act before it is too late, or many of these spectacular animals will disappear."
